Tyrese King
Updated: Apr 13, 2023
Over the years Jaykae has cultivated a loyal fan base, releasing classic grime tracks such as the Peaky Blinders-inspired ‘Moscow’ and the raw ‘Toothache’.
Now, Jaykae, born and raised in Small Heath returns with his new single ‘One Man Army’ in anticipation of his forthcoming sophomore album Hooligans, the follow-up to Where Have You Been (2017).
Since his debut album, the Birmingham rapper has worked with a number of established artists in the UK music scene such as Ms Dynamite, his inspiration Ghetts and fellow West Midlander native soul singer Jorja Smith.
Rapping over simple violin instrumentation produced by Thomas Mellor, Jaykae sets out to set himself out from his peers attacking the beat with his typical grime flow. He raps “One man soldier they aint my troops…Solo ting never roll in groups.”
Jaykae’s ability to spit has never been in question, his wordplay is punchy and direct delivered with controlled aggression and creativity. “No Solskjaer better tap in like Sheringham.. 22 like Bellingham…Blues not Everton same way man still get it in.” He demonstrates his passion for football and Birmingham City FC his local, where Jude Bellingham came through the youth academy before his move to Borussia Dortmund.
The provides a momentary glimpse into his current state of mind, examining his feelings about his kids, thoughts on the current rap scene and his place amongst his compatriots.
Artistically shot the video is cinematic with a black-and-white vibe to it as we see Jaykae hanging around the city of his birth with friends. You can also see camera shots of the gym in the visuals that accompany the track.
This year Jaykae has achieved other goals this year outside of music. The Brum town legend opened up his own boxing gym in partnership with the McCrackens, who were Anthony Joshua’s former coaches.
Marking his return with a standing ovation the 30-year-old's upcoming album Hooligans is scheduled to release sometime next year.